The Turn of the Screw

[secondwind]

Okay GMGers, bored Diner denizens, and classic literature fans,

The reading assignment for October was The Turn of the Screw.  It's November 11, so even the laggards among us should be finishing up now.  I have read the book (my first time), and I plan to watch a video of the Benjamin Britten opera later today.  Then, maybe, I'll consult some Cliff's Notes.

For now, a couple of first impressions.   The governess is creepy!  I wouldn't let her near children.  The narrative style, which is full of innuendo and short on direct, declarative statements, is driving me nuts!  (But I expect it is quite deliberate.)    The whole "don't ask, don't tell"  approach seems to guarantee trouble.  Yuck!  I found this a very slow read, compared to Gatsby.  And whereas Nick Caraway seemed to be a reasonably reliable narrator (at least, regarding anything and anyone other than himself), I don't trust this governess narrator a bit, which leaves me without any sure way of knowing what is actually going on. 

I'm looking forward to reading the insights of other Forum members.

[secondwind]

Okay, let the discussion begin!   I did watch the Britten opera version yesterday, so I have a whole new set of impressions.  Please post your thoughts on the book and/or opera.  I think I have a DVD of a movie version that I'll be watching, too. 

[MN Dave]

Sorry I dropped the ball on this. I became busier than I imagined. Forgiveness is requested.

[Keemun]

Can we make this the November reading assignment?    If so, I'll try to read it and participate.  Also, if anyone hasn't read it yet, you can download it free in various formats HERE. 

[secondwind]

Sorry I dropped the ball on this. I became busier than I imagined. Forgiveness is requested.

Well, Dave, errare humanum est.  You're forgiven, my son. (Where's the angel emoticon?)  As to Keemun's suggestion that we make this a November reading assignment (for December discussion, I assume), it's fine with me if that will have more people involved.  What do you think, Harpo?  I have found an entire dissertation written on the subject of various critical modes of thought on The Turn of the Screw, so I could use the extra reading time. . . 

[Harpo]

  As to Keemun's suggestion that we make this a November reading assignment (for December discussion, I assume), it's fine with me if that will have more people involved. 

I am in favor of starting discussion after Thanksgiving. I haven't read the book yet and would like to see the opera and maybe a film.

[secondwind]

After Thanksgiving sounds good.

[Szykneij]

After Thanksgiving sounds good.

That's better for me, too.

[springrite]

I've decided to cheat and watch the opera instead.

[secondwind]

I've decided to cheat and watch the opera instead.

[MN Dave]

I'm in.

No, really.

I'm reading Wharton; might as well throw in some James. They were pals after all.

[Harpo]

I'm in.

No, really.

Haven't we met before? Are you a Dr.?

[MN Dave]

I play one on message boards.

[MN Dave]

This one's next up in my reading pile.

[MN Dave]

What do you think of James' style?

[secondwind]

What do you think of James' style?

Well, the word "turgid" comes to mind.  Here's a sample, taken more or less at random:

But it was a comfort that there could be no uneasiness in a connexion with anything so beatific as the radiant image of my little girl, the vision of whose angelic beauty had probably more than anythng else to do with the restlessness that, before morning, made me several times rise and wander about my room to take in the whole picture and prospect; to watch from my open window the faint summer dawn, to look at such stretches of the rest of the house as I could catch, and to listen, while in the fading dusk the first birds began to twitter, for the possible recurrence of a sound or two, less natural and not without but within, that I had fancied I heard.

That's one sentence.  One.  (Diagram that! she thinks.)

[MN Dave]

Exactly what I was thinking. Interesting though; he and Edith Wharton were friends yet she has a much more modern style of writing.

[Harry]

Exactly what I was thinking. Interesting though; he and Edith Wharton were friends yet she has a much more modern style of writing.

I love reading the books from Edith Wharton....she remembers me of Winnifred Holtby and Vera Brittain, wholly forgotten now, but not by me, who doesn't remember Brittains Testament's books...I do, somehow a time that attracts me greatly, that time had style.....

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.campaign.ox.ac.uk/images/hi_res/2871_brittain.p.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.campaign.ox.ac.uk/campaign/oxford_thinkers/vera_brittain.html&usg=__3muRh3QBSjy1lSlX3Ul1zEAtd-I=&h=245&w=215&sz=31&hl=nl&start=11&tbnid=zeMToqkMaGIeLM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=97&prev=/images%3Fq%3DVera%2BBrittain%26hl%3Dnl%26lr%3Dlang_nl%26sa%3DN%26newwindow%3D1


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://prismdata.hullcc.gov.uk:8080/DServe/whportrait.jpg&imgrefurl=http://prismdata.hullcc.gov.uk:8080/DServe/winifredholtby.html&usg=__TnAGo8k23i2GMXodbxWfdtZ5ZkU=&h=326&w=241&sz=25&hl=nl&start=8&tbnid=XO4GHBunPp9-yM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=87&prev=/images%3Fq%3DWinnifred%2BHoltby%26hl%3Dnl%26lr%3Dlang_nl%26sa%3DN%26newwindow%3D1

[MN Dave]

I love reading the books from Edith Wharton...

Me too, Harry. So far I've read a collection of ghost stories and Ethan Frome. Will be looking for more Wharton in the future.

[Keemun]

Well, the word "turgid" comes to mind. 

Excellent description; and I would add "verbose."  I read the following sentence last night and, while I was able to piece together some understanding from the context in which it appeared, I am still not sure exactly what James was trying to say.

This was not so good a thing, I admit, as not to leave me to judge that what, essentially, made nothing else much signify was simply my charming work.

I find the story interesting, but I'm close to abandoning it because of James' writing style.